Hi friends!
I can’t believe it’s been almost three weeks since I’ve been on the move. Florida feels a million miles away and so far the travels have been smooth and uneventful. Still trying to get into the groove of balancing work, exploring, and driving but I’m doing the best I can to figure it out.
So onto Stop #3: Asheville, NC. Before visiting, I had heard nothing but great things about this quirky little town. Now I know exactly why!
But before I dive in, here’s a little backstory for you — and why travel is the ultimate connector of people. Last year when I was traveling in Porto, Portugal with my friends Ann and Paula (the PortuGALS) and I went on a wine tour of the Douro Valley. On that tour, we met Glen and Chuck, who lived in Asheville. As you can see from the photos below, it didn’t take us long to become friends with the wine-loving group!
I kept in touch with Glen and Chuck (a la Instagram) and while I was planning my road trip, I reached out to let them know I’d be stopping in Asheville.
And that’s where the magic begins.
All weekend was pretty much the “Glen and Megan Show.” (Chuck was out of town for work). We hit up the town and lived our BEST life! We may have even snuck into a rooftop bar grand opening and snapped a few pics with a fox mascot head (and also may have gotten busted by Mr. Foxman himself, who wasn’t amused with our antics). 🤣 Needless to say, there was absolutely zero lack of fun.
I made a stop at the revered Biltmore Estate, which was so gorgeous. The home was astonishing and the gardens were immaculate. I loved the solarium and now want to have one of my own someday. Major inspo! And the winery was also so stunning. The long tunnel into the tasting room was so cool!
The one thing that Asheville doesn’t lack are bars, craft breweries, and restaurants. And as the unofficial ambassador of Asheville, Glen took me to all the best spots. Green Man Brewery, Burial Brewery, Antedote, and The Times, just to name a few.
We were just getting ready to wrap up our weekend of fun but were inspired to stop by The Orange Peel, a local music venture, and see what band was playing that night. Well, none other than The Wallflowers — which made these two old millennials waaay too excited. To top it off, even though it was a sold-out show, we got in for free (two other people had their tickets scanned but had to leave). Boom!
This is why I love to travel so much. The incredible people you meet unexpectedly, the experiences that you ordinarily wouldn’t have, and the massive amounts of FUN you have along the way.
A MILLION thank yous to Glen for showing this girl a phenomenal time! Truly, this trip was magical because of his kindness and hospitality. I told him he needs to start an Asheville tour company - 10/10 would recommend!!
I’ll most definitely be seeing Asheville again soon! ✨
Love and light,
MW